Patents by Inventor Thomas Kearney

Thomas Kearney has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240066728
    Abstract: A sheetrock cutting tool incorporating a utility knife blade, a jab saw blade, a vertical and horizontal levels, and a stud-finder functionality is provided. The two blades are along opposing ends of the handle of the sheetrock cutting tool and the blades fold in and out of open and closed positions in opposing directions. The handle embeds both vertical and horizontal levels for facilitating level, straight and accurate perpendicular cuts with the two blades. Housed inside the handle are magnetizable material that enable the stud-finder functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Bryant Thomas Kearney
  • Patent number: 11751662
    Abstract: A palette, such as for providing choices of a makeup includes a base enclosing a drawer. The drawer includes pans within pan compartments. The base has a drawer compartment from which the drawer can slide in and out. The pan is retained in the pan compartment by application of a force that presses on the bottom of the pan, and the top of the pan presses against a frame or lid. The pan is removable from the pan compartment when the drawer is slid out from the base to expose an opening in the pan compartment through which the pan is removed. When the drawer includes a fixed frame on top, the pan can slide out from the front of the drawer, and when the drawer includes lids on top, the pan can be removed from the top as well as the front of the drawer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Wenzhen Cheng, Thomas Kearney, William Blake Soeters, Jesse Luis, Nikia Brown
  • Patent number: 11751661
    Abstract: A compact case and a method of making the compact case. The method includes the step of supporting a formulation tray having a depression formed from up an upright wall surrounding a bottom of the tray, and a flange extending outward from the exterior of the wall between a first frame that presses on top of the flange and a second frame that supports the bottom of the flange, wherein a gap separates the bottom of the formulation tray from the top of second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Wenzhen Cheng, Hadir Osman, Thomas Kearney, William Blake Soeters, Pierre Gardet, Florence Trotet, Laurence Marchand
  • Publication number: 20220408898
    Abstract: A palette, such as for providing choices of a makeup includes a base enclosing a drawer. The drawer includes pans within pan compartments. The base has a drawer compartment from which the drawer can slide in and out. The pan is retained in the pan compartment by application of a force that presses on the bottom of the pan, and the top of the pan presses against a frame or lid. The pan is removable from the pan compartment when the drawer is slid out from the base to expose an opening in the pan compartment through which the pan is removed. When the drawer includes a fixed frame on top, the pan can slide out from the front of the drawer, and when the drawer includes lids on top, the pan can be removed from the top as well as the front of the drawer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: L'Oreal
    Inventors: Wenzhen Cheng, Thomas Kearney, William Blake Soeters, Jesse Luis, Nikia Brown
  • Publication number: 20220346522
    Abstract: A compact case and a method of making the compact case. The method includes the step of supporting a formulation tray having a depression formed from up an upright wall surrounding a bottom of the tray, and a flange extending outward from the exterior of the wall between a first frame that presses on top of the flange and a second frame that supports the bottom of the flange, wherein a gap separates the bottom of the formulation tray from the top of second frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Wenzhen Cheng, Hadir Osman, Thomas Kearney, William Blake Soeters, Pierre Gardet, Florence Trotet, Laurence Marchand
  • Patent number: 9301593
    Abstract: A packaging system for a cosmetic product is disclosed. The system includes a reservoir for holding a cosmetic product. The reservoir defines an open end of the reservoir and a closed end opposite the open end of the reservoir. The system further includes a casing positioned at least partially over the reservoir, wherein at least a portion of the casing is transparent for observing the reservoir through the casing, and wherein a size and/or shape of the reservoir as observed through the casing appears different than an actual size and/or shape of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: L'OREAL
    Inventors: Zachary Mahoney, Wenzhen Cheng, Anthony Drouin, Thomas Kearney, Ludovic LeCaro
  • Publication number: 20150093173
    Abstract: A packaging system for a cosmetic product is disclosed. The system includes a reservoir for holding a cosmetic product. The reservoir defines an open end of the reservoir and a closed end opposite the open end of the reservoir. The system further includes a casing positioned at least partially over the reservoir, wherein at least a portion of the casing is transparent for observing the reservoir through the casing, and wherein a size and/or shape of the reservoir as observed through the casing appears different than an actual size and/or shape of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Zachary Mahoney, Wenzhen Cheng, Anthony Drouin, Thomas Kearney, Ludovic LeCaro
  • Patent number: 7756457
    Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a fuser housing, a fuser roller rotatably mounted to the fuser housing, an actuator mechanism, and a fuser detack mechanism. The fuser detack mechanism includes a detack housing pivotably mounted to the fuser housing. The fuser detack mechanism is pivoted from a first position to a second position when the actuator mechanism is actuated. A plurality of detack fingers is mounted to the detack housing. Each of the plurality of detack fingers has a distal end, wherein when the fuser detack mechanism is in the first position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be disengaged from an exterior surface of the fuser roller, and when the fuser detack mechanism is in the second position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be engaged with the exterior surface of the fuser roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Clark Edwin Jarnagin, William Thomas Kearney, III, Thomas Paul Maddox
  • Patent number: 7636734
    Abstract: A probabilistic process to determine the owner of an electronic file, such as a Personal Store (.pst). A weighted analysis of multiple factors is performed including the operating system file owner, a user running the process, a “top Y most frequently occurring addresses” when analyzing “X number of sent then received messages,” and a number of occurrences of each “top Y most frequently occurring address.” Other factors, such as the ability to resolve against a directory service may be used. Each of the “top Y most frequently occurring addresses” is analyzed to calculate its weight according to a predetermined relationship and the address is compared to the operating system file owner and a logged-on user value. If there is a match, that value is returned as the probable owner of the file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher L. Johnson, Richard Dean Webb, David Thomas Kearney
  • Publication number: 20090080953
    Abstract: A fuser assembly includes a fuser housing, a fuser roller rotatably mounted to the fuser housing, an actuator mechanism, and a fuser detack mechanism. The fuser detack mechanism includes a detack housing pivotably mounted to the fuser housing. The fuser detack mechanism is pivoted from a first position to a second position when the actuator mechanism is actuated. A plurality of detack fingers is mounted to the detack housing. Each of the plurality of detack fingers has a distal end, wherein when the fuser detack mechanism is in the first position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be disengaged from an exterior surface of the fuser roller, and when the fuser detack mechanism is in the second position, the distal end of each of the plurality of detack fingers is positioned to be engaged with the exterior surface of the fuser roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Clark Edwin Jarnagin, William Thomas Kearney, III, Thomas Paul Maddox
  • Publication number: 20080041407
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying mascara includes a brush formed from a twisted wire core connected to a handle, with a first plurality of bristles extending radially from the core along a substantial portion thereof. The end of the wire core is bent, in some cases, approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, such that a group of bristles fan out from the distal end of the brush, preferably along a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. The bent portion of the core includes between one and eight, and preferably one and four, turns of the twisted wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: Crown Packaging Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Kearney
  • Patent number: 7278798
    Abstract: A wiper for use in a cosmetics bottle fabricated from a semi-rigid plastic such as low density polyethylene. The wipe has a sleeve with an integral wiper diaphragm defining an orifice having a wiper edge. The wiper diaphragm is connected to the sleeve by a plurality of spaced-apart ribs which act to hold any pieces of the diaphragm which may break off in use, and prevent them from falling into the cosmetics bottle and any product contained in the bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Risdon International, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Kearney
  • Patent number: 7275740
    Abstract: A system, method and article for adjusting the time interval between feeding of successive sheets of media in a printer or copier. The method comprises initiating a first pick signal for a sheet of the media and identifying a feed time for the sheet of media, and identifying an expected feed time for said media. The system compares feed times to an expected feed time and adjusts according to such comparison to substantially correct for slippage or other problems feeding diverse media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Anthony Able, William Thomas Kearney, III, Thomas Paul Maddux, Kevin Dean Schoedinger
  • Publication number: 20060225760
    Abstract: A mascara brush and a method of making a mascara brush having a twisted wire core with flocking applied to the core, and bristles retained and gripped by the twisted wires of the core. Flocking may be adhered to just the brush portion of the twisted wire or the entire twisted wire. The flocking is formed from fiber strands having a diameter of about 0.0002 inch to about 0.0020 inch; and a length of between about 0.020 inch to about 0.150 inch, preferably about 0.040 inch to about 0.080 inch, and most preferably about 0.045 inch to about 0.060 inch. A plurality of radially extending bristles is retained between the wires of the core. The bristles have a diameter of about 0.003 inch to about 0.012 inch and a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 50 bristles per turn, and more preferably, a bristle density of about 7 bristles per turn to about 25 bristles per turn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Publication date: October 12, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Kearney
  • Publication number: 20060001563
    Abstract: A programmable input voltage range analog-to-digital converter in which a split gate oxide process allows the use of high voltage (±15 volt) switches on the same silicon substrate as standard sub-micron 5 volt CMOS devices. With this process, the analog input voltage can be sampled directly onto one or more sampling capacitors without the need for prior attenuation circuits. By only sampling on a given ratio of the sampling capacitors, the analog input can be scaled or attenuated to suit the dynamic range of a subsequent ADC. In the system of the present invention, the sampling capacitor can be the actual capacitive redistribution digital-to-analog converter (CapDAC) used in a SAR ADC itself, or a separate capacitor array. By selecting which bits of the CapDAC or separate sampling array to sample on, one can program the input range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Kearney
  • Publication number: 20050151680
    Abstract: A programmable input voltage range analog-to-digital converter in which a split gate oxide process allows the use of high voltage (±15 volt) switches on the same silicon substrate as standard sub-micron 5 volt CMOS devices. With this process, the analog input voltage can be sampled directly onto one or more sampling capacitors without the need for prior attenuation circuits. By only sampling on a given ratio of the sampling capacitors, the analog input can be scaled or attenuated to suit the dynamic range of a subsequent ADC. In the system of the present invention, the sampling capacitor can be the actual capacitive redistribution digital-to-analog converter (CapDAC) used in a SAR ADC itself, or a separate capacitor array. By selecting which bits of the CapDAC or separate sampling array to sample on, one can program the input range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Kearney
  • Patent number: 6206322
    Abstract: A towel dispenser for dispensing roll towel material, such as paper towel, cloth towel and the like. The dispenser includes an anti-free wheel mechanism incorporated therein to prevent the towel material from being pulled out of the dispenser without activating a dispensing mechanism. By preventing towel material from pulled out of the dispenser, excessive towel useage is prevented, thereby preventing towel material wastage. The anti-free wheel mechanism includes a latch that is secured to a pivoting lever of a dispensing mechanism, with the latch engaging with a dispensing gear of the dispensing mechanism to prevent rotation thereof when the lever is at its upper position. The latch is designed to disengage from the dispensing gear as the lever starts to move downward during a dispensing stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Bay West Paper Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Troy Elliott, William Thomas Kearney, III
  • Patent number: 6053474
    Abstract: The invention is a valve for a microwavable container having a flexible lid. The valve has two posts extending from one side of a body member, and the posts correspond to two apertures in the lid. The cross-sectional area of the posts are larger than the apertures in the lid, and the distal portions of the posts are larger than the proximal portions. When the posts are engaged with the apertures a liquid-tight seal is formed. One post can be removed from its corresponding aperture to create a vent for microwave cooking, while the other post remains engaged with the lid to anchor the valve to the lid. The body portion of the valve extends beyond the vent post and preferably flares upwardly and fans laterally to form a tab to facilitate opening of the vent. The body portion also preferably has a thin between the posts in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line of the posts to facilitate hinging of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Consumer Products Company
    Inventors: Donald W. Stucke, Jr., Pascal Golay, William Thomas Kearney, III